Miscellany,  Picture Books

Look…

It might not look like much to you. Dirt, with bits of feeble green poking through. But a week and two days ago, it looked like this:

and this:

and this:

A few weeks ago the cardinals, who are here all winter but silent, began singing again in the morning. Then the robins came back. I’ve been hearing their song in the early mornings and it’s been wonderful. But this. THIS means spring is here. February feels like I’m hanging from a cliff, grasping with slipping hands, desperate for color and release from the four walls. But March means it’s really going to happen.

Even my memories of childhood stories come out of hibernation. All day I’ve been thinking,

“Spring, Spring, Spring!” sang the frog.

“Spring!” said the groundhog.

“Spring, Spring, Spring!” sang the robin…

In the Spring a bunny came down the road. He was going to find a home of his own.

A home for a bunny,

A home of his own,

Under a rock,

Under a stone,

Under a log,

Or under the ground.

Where would a bunny find a home?

The book is still on the shelf at my parents’ house, but as going to their house wasn’t a possibility, we headed for the library — AFTER I subjected the girls to this sentimental mood by quoting excerpts from the book until they guessed the title.

This story is one of my earliest reading memories, and though I admit to my absurdly biased viewpoint, I think it captures the particular exuberance a Northeasterner feels when it sinks in that spring has really arrived. It returns to mind year after year at the sight of dirt and feeble green shoots.

5 Comments

  • Amy @ Hope Is the Word

    Oh, tears came to my eyes when I read your quote from this book, even before I saw the book cover. I haven’t thought of this book in such a long time! I need to find a copy for my girls to enjoy. Of course, we don’t experience winter quite the way you do way up north, but we look forward to spring with equal anticipation!

    Lovely, lovely post!

  • Carrie, Reading to Know

    Well that is exciting progress (the grass) after seeing all that snow. Usually I’m thrilled about the onset of fall and the winter months. That’s my favorite time of year. But this year I’ve become incredibly enamored with the idea of SPRING! Saw buds on the trees the other day and wanted to cry. But that might have more to do with my stage of life than anything else. I expect I’ll be reeling in the love of fall when it comes!

  • Barbara H.

    I feel the same way about Feb. and March even though I am from the southeast. I imagine it would be that much harder in the north! I’ve never heard of that book — sounds nice.